Their new album, entitled \"Operation: Mindcrime II\", will be out in Germany on March 10, 2006, in the US on March 14, in Japan on March 22 and in the rest of the world on March 13, 2006.

Queensrÿche drummer Scott Rockenfield recorded his parts for \"Operation: Mindcrime II\" in August at Synergy Studios in Redmond, Washington.

\"Bootleg-quality\" live recordings of two tracks slated to appear on the new CD, Hostage and I\'m American, are available for download at Queensryche.com.

Praised by critics and certified platinum, the original \"Operation: Mindcrime\" remained on Billboard\'s album chart for more than a year and its dynamic music and powerful message still resonate today. Queensrÿche\'s upcoming album will be released via the group\'s new label, Rhino Entertainment.

Frontman Geoff Tate says the current political and social climate inspired him to revisit the storyline:

\"I left the original open-ended with the intent to come back with a sequel to finish the story up. Considering where we are today and how little things have changed, it was too ironic not to continue the story.\"

\"Operation: Mindcrime\"\'s intriguing and complex plot revolves around Dr. X, a political puppet master who brainwashes Nikki, the story\'s main character, to assassinate corrupt public figures. The story also includes Nikki\'s lover, Sister Mary. A former teenage prostitute who becomes a nun, Sister Mary is murdered mysteriously, leaving the cliffhanger Who Killed Sister Mary?

Set 20 years after the original, \"Operation: Mindcrime II\" explores Nikki\'s fate after being released from prison and reveals the identity of Mary\'s killer. COntinues Tate:

\"I tried to put myself in Nikki\'s shoes and imagine what it would be like for him to come back to society after spending 20 years in jail stewing about what happened to him. I became fascinated with the concept of revenge and what that would do to a person like Nikki. The story is ultimately about how Nikki wrestles with his conflicted emotions. On one side, his base instincts are pushing him to kill those who wronged him. On the other side, his conscience–represented by the spirit of Sister Mary — urges him to learn from his past mistakes and find salvation.\"

Since its formation in 1981 near Seattle, Queensrÿche has released nine studio albums. \"Empire\", the 1990 follow-up to \"Operation: Mindcrime\", sold more than two million copies thanks in part to the enormous success of the hit Silent Lucidity.